Dust ridden ’Smart City’ roads a serious hazard to all

Dust ridden ’Smart City’ roads a serious hazard to all

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 27, 2018: Traders and public in the Mission Street area have been complaining that road and related works are affecting their life in several negative ways. Nellikayi Road adjacent to State Bank and the Mission Street are in the heart of the business area in the heart of the city and the people here are horrified at poor management of the roads, drains and related on going works.

A social activist stated that asphalt has come off and the surface is just loose dry mud roads for six to eight km from Nellikayi Road till even Kudroli area. Vehicles on the roads and those parked by the stretches have been coated with dust due to the conditions prevailing. People seriously fear for their health and safety. The fine dust particles constantly rising with movement of vehicles on such roads are causing severe respiratory and breathing problems.

Prominent business persons and owner of the Hotel Citywalk Residency, pointed at people sprinkling water on the streets to prevent the dust from rising. The business has been affected as customers prefer not to enter a dusty place.

“We have spoken to the Mangaluru City Corporation commissioner. But he has only said that the work on the roads is on. No tender has apparently been called to lay concrete on the stretch, but we would prefer asphalt,” it was widely said.

Regarding the drains, an activist said, “The pipeline laid by the corporation for the underground drains in the area is very narrow. During the heavy rain this year, many of us feared the drains would choke. There was also fear of attack of diseases like dengue. Some medical organizations have pointed out there is a rapid increase in illness cases now”

Corporator Latheef categorically said that at present the corporation is no longer in charge of the streets. “The roads have been assigned to the Smart City Project. The DK DC heads the various committees that are handling the Project,” he stated.

“A meeting was held but no tender has been called for concrete roads yet. Also, separate tenders will be called for work on the drains. The DC has instructed the officers to hasten the work from Nellikayi Road till the Mukhyaprana Temple in the Bunder area, passing through Mission Street,” the corporator said.

In response to the complaints of the citizens, Latheef explained, “Very often, the technicians assign a certain number of days for a road or drain work to be completed in an appropriate manner. In the case of asphalt or concrete work, the technicians assign days for curing. The citizens, however, mistake it to be a halt in the work and accuse us of inaction and negligence.”

But, a knowledgeable activist of the area said, that when such major work is on, the authorities need to make suitable arrangements for the reasonable passage of people residing in the area and also plan for emergency such as sickness, garbage collection and so on. However, the whole execution of works is in nonchalant and negligent manner with no responsible person on the spot. The workers, invariably outsiders, who are not familiar with even the language just refuse to respond and are not to be blamed. There should at least be suitable notices indicating information on the work in progress and who is to be contacted when needed. But, the whole situation is negligent and the areas resemble a war zone.